piquant
adjective
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Piquant flavors "sting" the tongue and piquant words "prick" the intellect, arousing interest. These varying senses reflect the etymology of the word piquant, which first appeared in English in the 17th century and which derives from the Middle French verb piquer, meaning "to sting" or "to prick." Though first used to describe foods with spicy flavors, the word is now often used to describe things that are spicy in other ways, such as engaging conversation. Have we piqued your curiosity about another piquer offspring? If you’ve already guessed that the verb pique, meaning "to offend" or "to arouse by provocation," comes from piquer, too, you’ve got a sharp mind.
Synonyms
- pert
- poignant
- pungent
- salty
- savory
- savoury
- zesty
- zingy
Example Sentences
Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2022 Unlike pesto, this sauce does not emulsify; keep it loose — and deliciously piquant — with a dash of caper brine, if necessary. Chris Morris, BostonGlobe.com, 1 July 2022 The documents evoked, in granular detail, the terror of life under Russian occupation, as well as its piquant absurdities. New York Times, 24 May 2022 Tremolos are everywhere, in luxuriant strings and piquant winds and skittering percussion. Charles Mcnultytheater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2022 Tremolos are everywhere, in luxuriant strings and piquant winds and skittering percussion. Charles Mcnultytheater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2022 Underneath all those savory elements is a steady pulse of caramelly sweetness, a counterweight to salty soy and piquant chiles. Chris Morocco, Bon Appétit, 8 June 2022 With its own hilarious version of that Kendall Jenner Pepsi commercial and piquant references to QAnon, Charlottesville and Jan. 6, there’s no shortage of zippy quips and flying elbows. Inkoo Kang, Washington Post, 3 June 2022 This time, the jalapeños are pickled, and their piquant jab rounds out the sweet juiciness of the fruit. Cesar Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 31 May 2022 See More Word History
Middle French, from present participle of piquer
1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1
piquant
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- spicy
- pungent
- zesty
- poignant
- zingy
- delicious
- savory
- salty
- pert
- savoury
- fascinating
- biting
- peppery
- provocative
- vinegary
- interesting
- trenchant
- flavorful
- acute
- invigorating
- exciting
- intriguing
- provoking
- gingery
- racy
- delectable
- fiery
- mordant
- hot
- enlightening
- scrumptious
- appetizing
- toothsome
- energizing
- tasty
- galvanizing
- gripping
- luscious
- absorbing
- engrossing
- ambrosial
- enthralling
- riveting
- cutting
- engaging
- keen
- bitter
- animating
- palatable
- piquing
- arresting
- savorous
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- insipid
- dry
- predictable
- banal
- arid
- tedious
- tasteless
- dull
- uninteresting
- ponderous
- flat
- monotonous
- leaden
- wearisome
- boring
- humdrum
- drab
- thin
- bland
- barren
- colorless
- weak
- stodgy
- stale
- dreary
- numbing
- savorless
- zestless
- flat
- flavorless
- tiring
- dilute
- pedestrian
- wearying
- watery
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of piquant are poignant, pungent, and racy. While all these words mean "sharp and stimulating to the mind or the senses," piquant suggests a power to whet the appetite or interest through tartness or mild pungency.
Although the words poignant and piquant have much in common, poignant suggests something is sharply or piercingly effective in stirring one's emotions.
The synonyms pungent and piquant are sometimes interchangeable, but pungent implies a sharp, stinging, or biting quality especially of odors.
The words racy and piquant can be used in similar contexts, but racy implies having a strongly characteristic natural quality fresh and unimpaired.